Stair-builder s gage



(No Model.) 7 '2 Sheets-8heet 1 W. P. ROOSA STAI'R BUILDER'S GAGE.

Patented Jan 25, 1898 (N0 Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. .W. P. ROOSA. STAIR BUILDER'S GAGE.

Patented Jan. 25, 1898.

WITNESSES INT E TOR a; 97%

i. UNITED Srn'rns \VALTER P. ROOSA, OF lVATERBURY CONNECTICUT.

STAlR-BUILDERS GAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 597,915, dated January 25, 1898. Application filed June 1, 1896. Serial No. 593,818. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, YVALTER P. Roosn, a citizen of the United Statesn'esiding at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stair-Builders Gages; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to stair-rail gages for determining the twist of the wreathpiece of the rail.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, stair-rails have consisted of a body or frame, adjustable rods or markers, and a pencil. The markers are used to play along the sides of the wreathpiece and the pencil to define the twist-line. In wreath-pieces, however, the length of the plumb or center line is constantly changing from one end to the other of the piece inasmuch as said line is changing its angle with the face of the plank or piece. Hence the length of the center line at one end of the piece is greater than at the other, and in the old form of gage the markers or pointers are not adapted to properly define the twist-line,-

because said pointers do not automatically adjust themselves to the constantly-varying length of the center or plumb line.

My object is to provide a stair-rail gage adapted for determining the twist-line of the wreath-piece without necessitating com putation of any kind.

A further object is to provide a stair-rail gage which will be of such improved construc tion that the pointers or markers will automatically adjust themselves to thevarying length of the center or plumb line, and hence the pencil will properly define the twist-line.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of a stainrail gage comprising j ustable pencil and its holder in position on the cover; Fig. i, a view in cross section showing the pencil and its holder; Figs. 5 and 6, views showing the application of the gage when determining the twist-line of a wreath-piece.

A designates the elongated easing, provided with openings 1 and 2 at its ends and having acover 3 held in position by screws which connect it to lugs 4. Said casing has a longitudinal spline or key 5. The casing is also provided with a centrally-disposed pintle 6, on which a pinion '7 is revolubly mounted. Additional studs 8 are also provided to further strengthen the cover.

The numerals 9 and 10 designate duplicate adj usting-rods having bent portions that pass through the openings 1 and 2 and are provided with a clampingbox 11 and a clamping-screw 12. A rod 13 passes through the box and is adjustable in relation thereto, said rod carrying a clamping-box 1i and a clamping-screw 15 on one end. Around steel gagerod 16 is received in the clamping-box 14, as shown. That portion of the adj usting-rod which lies within the casing is provided with a rack 17 meshing with the pinion 7. A coilspring 18 connects the adjnstingrod with a stud 19, projecting from the casing and exerts a tendency to keep said adjusting-rod retracted and the ends of the gage-rods in contact. This peculiar arrangement of the parts causes the adjusting-rods, and hence the gage-rods, to be advanced or retracted at an equal rate.

I provide an adjustable pencil-holder 20, which straddles the casing, being provided with a keyway 21, which receives the key 5, and having a set-screw for clamping it in position. An inclined slotted pencil-clasp 23 is connected to the holder by an angular plate 24.

The pencil is designated by the numeral 25.

The gage is used in the following manner: The pencil-holder is set at the right position in relation to the central point of the casing.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen how my improved gage is used. B designates a wreath-piece whose sides have been worked plumb from the face-mold. The center or plumb line of this wreath-piece is shown at b.

, The twist-line is shown at 1).

Owing to the shape of the wreath-piece it will be observed that the length of the line b at the top of the piece is somewhat longer than the length of the same line at the lower end of said piece. The lengthof this center line I) isconstantly changingor varying from its length at its upper endto that at its lower end. On account of this constantly-varying length of the center line the old form of gage is not well adapted to perform its purpose,

This twistline is the line defined by the pencil-gage, and it is obvious that the 01d form of gage would not properly define this twist-line inasinuch as the pointers or markers do not at all timesautomaticaliy adjust themselves to the variationsin length of the center or plumb line b. WVith my gage, however, the pointers or gage-rods are at all times kept in contact with the faces of thewreath-piece, and hence the twist-line is properly defined. The paths of the tips of the gage-rods are shown at c and c. The shape of the ends of the finished rail are seen at the ends of the Wreath-piece. The advantage of having the pencil adjust able on the casing will be seen from an inspection of the drawings,where it will be'observed that as many twist-lines can be marked oft successively as found desirable-as, for instance, at the points 63, e, f, and g.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 is claimed as new is- 1. 'In a stair-rail gage, thecombination with a casing, of a pinion, adjusting rods having racks in mesh with the pinion, gage-rods conneoted to the adjusting-rods, and springs con nected to theadjustin'g-rods and retracting in adjusted position, gage-rods adapted for simultaneousand equal actuation longitudinally of the casing in relation thereto and located on opposite sides of the pencil-holder but which areindependent of the latter:

3. In a stair-rail gage, the combination with I a casing, of apinion, adjusting-rods each provided with a rack meshing with the pinion, gaging devices connected to said adjustingrods, springs connected to the adj listing-rods and to the casing, said springs drawing the gage-rods toward each other, and a scratchpoint or pencil secured to the casing and adjustable longitudinally of the same and which I is fixed relatively to the adj llStlIlg-IOdfl.

4. Ina stair-rail gage, the combination with a casing, of a marker carried thereby and simultaneously and equally spring-retracted gage-rods carried by said casing andadapted for extension inopposite directions from each other, being located on opposite sides of the marker.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER P. ROOSA.

Witnesses:

MARIA J. ROOSA, O. BRADSHAW. 

